3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sanction  \Sanc"tion\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Sanctioned};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Sanctioning}.] 
  To  give  sanction  to  to  ratify;  to  confirm;  to  approve. 
 
  Would  have  counseled,  or  even  sanctioned,  such  perilous 
  experiments.  --De  Quincey. 
 
  Syn:  To  ratify;  confirm;  authorize;  countenance. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sanction  \Sanc"tion\,  n.  [L.  sanctio,  from  sancire  sanctum  to 
  render  sacred  or  inviolable,  to  fix  unalterably:  cf  F. 
  sanction.  See  {Saint}.] 
  1.  Solemn  or  ceremonious  ratification;  an  official  act  of  a 
  superior  by  which  he  ratifies  and  gives  validity  to  the 
  act  of  some  other  person  or  body;  establishment  or 
  furtherance  of  anything  by  giving  authority  to  it 
  confirmation;  approbation. 
 
  The  strictest  professors  of  reason  have  added  the 
  sanction  of  their  testimony.  --I.  Watts. 
 
  2.  Anything  done  or  said  to  enforce  the  will  law,  or 
  authority  of  another;  as  legal  sanctions. 
 
  Syn:  Ratification;  authorization;  authority;  countenance; 
  support. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sanction 
  n  1:  formal  and  explicit  approval  [syn:  {countenance},  {endorsement}, 
  {warrant},  {imprimatur}] 
  2:  a  mechanism  of  social  control  for  enforcing  a  society's 
  standards 
  3:  the  act  of  final  authorization;  "it  had  the  sanction  of  the 
  church"  [syn:  {authority}] 
  v  1:  give  sanction  to  "I  approve  of  his  educational  policies" 
  [syn:  {approve},  {ok},  {okay}]  [ant:  {disapprove}] 
  2:  give  authority  or  permission  to 

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